Kirsten D. Sikkelee

Kirsten D. Sikkelee has led YWCA Central Carolinas as chief executive officer since 2009. In this role, Kirsten oversees two transitional housing programs for women and families facing homelessness, eight Youth Learning Centers providing free literacy-based out-of-school programming for students from low-income households, racial justice and advocacy programming to educate and mobilize our community and a coed fitness center that empowers our neighbors. Kirsten is known as a creative and collaborative leader, committed to fostering lasting, positive changes for our community and its neighbors.

Kirsten has had the honor of working at YWCA Central Carolinas since 1994, taking on various programmatic roles throughout her tenure. As Program Director, Kirsten created Women In Transition (WIT), a transitional housing program with supportive services for unaccompanied homeless women. As Chief Program Officer, Kirsten created a similar program for families recovering from homelessness: Families Together. Kirsten has a history of successful fundraising campaigns to support YWCA’s mission and programs. She co-led fundraising for an $8M campaign, and then managed the construction of 10 townhomes for Families Together and significant renovations for Women In Transition. She also led YWCA’s board and leadership to re-envision YWCA’s property to become home to 80+ units of permanent affordable housing and now leads the campaign raising more than $7MM+ in private philanthropy to fund this initiative. 

Kirsten holds a B.A. in Religion from Davidson College and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. She served as founding board member of the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund, past chair of the United Way Council of Agency Executives, past president of the Homeless Services Network and previously served on the Board of Visitors for Davidson College. She lives in Charlotte’s historic Plaza-Midwood neighborhood with her husband, musician Paul Walker.